Open Call for Master Thesis
MA Thesis: Mapping the "Pathway to Impact" for European Cancer Research
Are you interested in how scientific research translates into real-world health benefits? We are seeking a Master’s student to co-develop an Impact Assessment Model for TRANSCAN-4, a major European initiative starting in May/June 2026 (see here for previous funding line TRANSCAN-3).
The Project: Beyond Citations
Traditional metrics often fail to capture the full value of medical research. Your task is to look further—assessing how cancer research influences clinical practice, policy, and the economy. You will help build a "pathway-to-impact" model, moving from technical data (publications, patents, clinical trials) to qualitative success stories.
Your Core Tasks
- Develop a logical model mapping research activities to societal outcomes.
- Define SMART indicators (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) for cancer research.
- Identify ways to capture "Impact Stories" to supplement quantitative data.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to validate and prioritize these indicators.
Your Profile
We are looking for students in Public Health, Science Studies, or curious students from life sciences in general with an interest in:
- Logic Models & Theory of Change: Experience in mapping how inputs lead to long-term outcomes.
- Evaluative Research: Interest in program evaluation and impact measurement.
- Data Synthesis: Ability to combine quantitative metrics with qualitative insights.
- Communication: Skills in translating complex research processes into clear frameworks.
The list above is our wish list. We are aware that most students will not be able to tick all of the boxes. Motivation to work on the above tasks and a genuine interest to advance your skill set are most important. The thesis is not remunerated but follow up funding for a PhD position is potentially available.
Where?
The QUEST Center (Quality | Ethics | Open Science | Translation) at the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité Universitätsmedizin – Berlin conducts and implements meta-research in biomedical sciences and beyond. Our goal is to increase research trustworthiness and efficiency of the research system. By joining us, you will work in an international and multidisciplinary environment dedicated to improving the culture of science and supporting research to benefit patients.
If you are interested contact ulf.toelch@bih-charite.de with an expression of interest until 30th of March. Please only send a short CV and two short paragraphs why you are interested and your possible start date. Include links of publications or other scientific outputs (github repo or similar). Do not include photos or other personal information not directly relevant for the conduct of the thesis. For suitable candidates we will schedule online interviews.
